The Green Bay Packers have put together an impressive group of young skill position players on offense, including wide receiver Christian Watson. The franchise underwent a youth movement starting in 2022, using the draft as a way to restock after trading away Davante Adams.
Christian Watson had a lot of pressure on him as a rookie after being selected in the second round in 2022. He was immediately thrown in the fire, taking over as one of the starters with expectations to replace the production Adams provided.
His rookie season was off to a slow start because of a hamstring injury. But, when healthy, he showcased just how productive he could be. In a four-game stretch, he caught 15 passes for 313 yards and seven touchdowns.
In 2024, he had a similarly dominant stretch. He caught four touchdowns in three games, recording 14 receptions for 186 yards. But, a hamstring injury knocked him out of commission again, costing him the final five games of the regular season after missing the first three.
There is no denying the talent that Christian Watson possesses, but the Packers need him to stay healthy. If not, his starting spot is going to be in danger. Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report has listed the North Dakota State product as a projected starter in Week 1, but Dontayvion Wicks is on his heels.
“There are two interesting questions as far as the offense is concerned. The first is whether first-round pick Jordan Morgan earns a starting role by Week 1. Rasheed Walker had good moments as the left tackle last season and Morgan has suboptimal length for an NFL tackle. The Packers will play their best five linemen, though. The other is whether Dontayvion Wicks is destined to take Christian Watson’s spot in the lineup after last season,” Ballentine wrote.
Wicks, a fifth-round pick out of Virginia in the 2023 NFL Draft, was a big part of the team’s game plan as a rookie. He appeared in 15 games, starting six and was efficient. He caught 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns.
That level of performance certainly warrants being a bigger part of the Packers’ game plan in 2024. But, for him to play more, someone else has to be on the sidelines. If Christian Watson doesn’t stay healthy, he could lose his spot to Wicks this season.
